Lincoln County commissioners this week approved the Estimate of Needs for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year and that includes a $50 pay raise for all full time employees. The raises won’t be final, however, until the Fiscal Year budget is approved in October.
Commission Chairman Lee Doolen said following the meeting the total on the Estimate of Needs is $7,295,000. He also stated that county elected officials are not included in the pay raises.
“Elected officials’ raises are done off of a formula according to state statute,” he said.
County Clerk Alicia Wagnon further explained the raises. “Nothing is final. What was approved in the meeting will go into preparing the budget. The raises are included in the Estimate of Needs.”
County Emergency Management Director Wendi Marcy updated commissioners regarding COVID-19. She reported, “There are 42 active cases in the county and still two deaths.”
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported the total number positive cases so far in the county as of Monday has been 132. Marcy said, “Our numbers continue going up.
Marcy said the county has incurred around $200,000 in COVID related expense that will be submitted for reimbursement through the CARES Act.
She further noted, “We will now be distributing personal protective supplies for staff and students at all of the school districts in the county. That is following a directive from the governor late last week.”
Lincoln County has nine public school districts.
Commissioners agreed there was nothing that needed to be changed about the COVID-19 response policy regarding the courthouse and that what was in place seemed to be working.
Commissioners, on a 2-1 vote, approved proper disbursement of SB 1888 CIRB funds. District 1 Commissioner Carl Munson made the motion, seconded by District 2 Commissioner Troy Evans.
They voted to approved the motion, Doolen opposed it.
Munson stated during discussion, “You guys are getting more per road mile than I am.”
Doolen said, “I can’t give up $36,000 and Troy can’t give up $24,000.” But Munson claimed, “I’m getting shorted and this just makes it worse.”
Doolen argued, “This isn’t smart, not in these times.”
Commissioners voted to approve a target of $7,000 for the scope of work on a bank building the county recently purchased. Doolen said that doesn’t include cost of the network and cameras.
They also adopted a resolution authorizing up to $15,000 from Use Tax funds to be used for the bank building project and what of that amount is not used will be returned to the Use Tax Fund.
The commissioners voted to allow the County Clerk to begin the process of discontinuing use of TM Consulting Software and converting back to KellPro Software and to determine if any final fees are to be paid to TM Consulting.
Assistant District Attorney Greg Wilson indicated it will be an ongoing process saying, “We’ll see how they respond.”
In other business, commissioners:
Adopted a resolution to execute a project agreement for bridge and approaches over Deer Creek on EW075 in District 1.
Approved easements for the Kickapoo Street project in District 3.
Approved interlocal jail agreements and intergovernmental cooperative agreements with the city of Agra and the city of Wellston.
Approved an interlocal jail agreement with the city of Chandler.
Agreed to the School Resource Officer with Chandler Public Schools.
Approved an interlocal agreement with Pottawatomie County.
Agreed to a Declaration of Surplus in the Treasurer’s Office.
Adopted a resolution to dispose of equipment in the Treasurer’s Office.
Agreed to go out for bids for cleaning services for the Lincoln County Courthouse.
Approved a Division Order with Ascent Midstream.
Agreed to begin the bid process on county property located in Block 1, Lots 5-6 of South Side Addition in Stroud.